1. The document discusses the need for a theoretical contingency to explain why an indirect-acting performance management (PM) contingency is effective in controlling behavior.
2. It provides an example of a waiter, Paul, who will receive a $5 bonus from his manager if his sales meet a 25% target for appetizers and drinks. This PM contingency is indirect-acting so a direct-acting theoretical contingency is needed.
3. The theoretical contingency examples show that it must be direct-acting, observable or inferred, and linked to the PM contingency, not the natural contingency, to properly explain why the indirect PM contingency controls behavior.
1. Since you understand the PM
contingency, we now need to explain
why that contingency is effective in
controlling behavior. That brings us
to:
The Theoretical
Contingency
Estimated Time: 15 min.
2. First we have to determine
whether or not we even need
the theoretical contingency…
3. If the outcome for the PM contingency is
delayed by more than 60 seconds, it means
that it is indirect-acting.
But behavior is controlled by direct-acting
contingencies…
So if the PM contingency is indirect-acting,
we need to add a direct-acting theoretical
contingency to directly control the
behavior.
4. Paul is a waiter at Old Peninsula Brew Pub.
His manager is trying to get the wait staff
to suggest appetizer and drink items to up-
sell to customers. At the end of the day,
if Paul’s sales printout shows at least 25%
total sales in appetizers and drinks sales,
Paul will get a $5 bonus from his manager.
5. Before Behavior After
Paul will not Paul will
receive a $5 Paul up-sells receive a $5
bonus at the one item bonus at the
end of the day end of the day
This contingency is Indirect-Acting,
because Paul will not receive his bonus
until the end of the day. This means
we DO need the Theoretical
Contingency. Now let’s see what that
looks like…
6. Ineffective Natural Contingency
Paul has
Paul has given Paul up-sells one
Infinitesimally
level of daily sales item
higher daily sales
Performance Management Contingency
Paul will lose Paul will not lose
opportunity for a $5 Paul up-sells one opportunity for a $5
bonus at the end of item bonus at the end of
the day the day
Direct-Acting Theoretical Contingency
Paul does not fear
Paul fears loss of
loss of
opportunity for a Paul up-sells one
opportunity for a
$5 bonus at the item
$5 bonus at the
end of the day
end of the day
7. What kind of contingency is this?
Before Behavior After
No Lauren sings Applause
applause from her solo from
voice teacher perfectly voice teacher
A. Direct-acting
B. Indirect-acting
8. What kind of contingency is this?
Before Behavior After
No Lauren sings Applause
applause from her solo from
voice teacher perfectly voice teacher
No. Lauren’s teacher
immediately applauds her
good performance. There
isn’t any delay, so this is
direct-acting.
A. Direct-acting Back to
the
B. Indirect-acting question!
9. What kind of contingency is this?
Before Behavior After
No Lauren sings Applause
applause from her solo from
voice teacher perfectly voice teacher
You’re exactly right! Lauren’s
voice teacher applauds
immediately after her
performance, so this contingency
is direct-acting.
A. Direct-acting
B. Indirect-acting
10. Well then, do we need a theoretical
contingency for this example?
Before Behavior After
No Lauren sings Applause
applause from her solo from
voice teacher perfectly voice teacher
A. Yes
B. No
11. Well then, do we need a theoretical
contingency for this example?
Before Behavior After
No Lauren sings Applause
applause from her solo from
voice teacher perfectly voice teacher
Careful! This contingency is
direct-acting. And when the PM
contingency is direct-acting, we
don’t need a theoretical
contingency.
A. Yes Back to
the
B. No question!
12. Well then, do we need a theoretical
contingency for this example?
Before Behavior After
No Lauren sings Applause
applause from her solo from
voice teacher perfectly voice teacher
Yup! No theoretical contingency
is needed because the applause
directly reinforces Lauren’s
behavior.
A. Yes
B. No
13. We know that only direct-acting
contingencies control behavior; that’s why
we need the theoretical contingency to
explain the indirect-acting PM
contingency.
We need the contingency to pass the
Direct-Acting Test;
that is, the outcome must be immediate
to make it effective
14. What kind of contingency is this?
Before Behavior After
You fear You do not fear
You start
getting a bad getting a
to study
grade bad grade
A. Direct-acting
B. Indirect-acting
15. What kind of contingency is this?
Before Behavior After
You fear You do not fear
You start
getting a bad getting a
to study
grade bad grade
This is a DIRECT-ACTING
contingency. When you start
to study the fear of a bad
grade is immediately
terminated (or reduced). So
it’s immediate, sizable, and
probable.
A. Direct-acting Back to
the
B. Indirect-acting question!
16. What kind of contingency is this?
Before Behavior After
You fear You do not fear
You start
getting a bad getting a
to study
grade bad grade
Very good!!! The outcome is
immediate, sizable, and probable,
so this contingency is direct-
acting!
A. Direct-acting
B. Indirect-acting
17. Next question:
The Inferred Test
Is the contingency
inferred or observable?
We should be talking
about something we
can’t see (like fear or
guilt) as opposed to
something we can see
(like a toy, token, or
grade)
18. Is this contingency inferred?
Before Behavior After
You fear You do not fear
You start
getting a bad getting a
to study
grade bad grade
A. Yes
B. No
19. Is this contingency inferred?
Before Behavior After
You fear You do not fear
You start
getting a bad getting a
to study
grade bad grade
Hmm…think about it a little
longer. Can you see “fear?” If
not, it is inferred.
A. Yes Back to
the
B. No question!
20. Is this contingency inferred?
Before Behavior After
You fear You do not fear
You start
getting a bad getting a
to study
grade bad grade
Right!!! It is inferred because we
can’t directly see “fear” and “no
fear”.
A. Yes
B. No
21. How about this one…is this contingency
inferred or observable?
Before Behavior After
You will get a You will not
bad grade You start get a bad
on the test to study grade on the
tomorrow test tomorrow
A. Observable
B. Inferred
22. How about this one…is this contingency
inferred or observable?
Before Behavior After
You will get a You will not
bad grade You start get a bad
on the test to study grade on the
tomorrow test tomorrow
This contingency is
OBSERVABLE, because we can
see it. We can look at the bad
grade.
A. Observable Back to
the
B. Inferred question!
23. How about this one…is this contingency
inferred or observable?
Before Behavior After
You will get a You will not
bad grade You start get a bad
on the test to study grade on the
tomorrow test tomorrow
Yup! We can see the bad grade.
So this contingency is observable.
A. Observable
B. Inferred
24. Is this contingency a theoretical
contingency?
Before Behavior After
You will get a You will not
bad grade You start get a bad
on the test to study grade on the
tomorrow test tomorrow
A. Yes
B. No
25. We know that this
Is this contingency a theoretical
contingency is NOT
inferred, and the outcome
contingency?
is NOT immediate. So it
can’t be a theoretical
Before
contingency. Behavior After
You will get a You will not
bad grade You start get a bad
on the test to study grade on the
tomorrow test tomorrow
A. Yes Back to
the
B. No question!
26. You’re right! Since it is NOT
inferred and the outcome is
Is this contingency a theoretical
NOT immediate, it is not a
contingency?
theoretical contingency.
Before Behavior After
You will get a You will not
bad grade You start get a bad
on the test to study grade on the
tomorrow test tomorrow
A. Yes
B. No
27. What type of contingency is it?
Before Behavior After
You will get a You will not
bad grade You start get a bad
on the test to study grade on the
tomorrow test tomorrow
A. Ineffective natural contingency
B. Performance-Management contingency
28. Remember that to be the ineffective
What type of contingency is it?
natural contingency, the outcome must be
small or improbable. And it CAN’T be
planned or added. Look at this outcome
again, and see if it passes these tests.
Before Behavior After
You will get a You will not
bad grade You start get a bad
on the test to study grade on the
tomorrow test tomorrow
A. Ineffective natural contingency Back to
the
B. Performance-Management contingency question!
29. What type of contingency is it?
That’s right!! It’s a performance-
management contingency!!!
Before Behavior After
You will get a You will not
bad grade You start get a bad
on the test to study grade on the
tomorrow test tomorrow
A. Ineffective natural contingency
B. Performance-Management contingency
30. Now we need the contingency
to pass the
Linked to PM Test
The theoretical contingency
should be linked to the
performance management
contingency, not the
ineffective natural contingency
31. You have
You have
You start infinitesimally
given level
to study greater
of knowledge
knowledge
These These
SHOULD ARE
ALWAYS NEVER
BE You will get a You will not linked.
linked. bad grade You start get a bad
on the test to study grade on the
tomorrow test tomorrow
You fear
You do not
getting a
fear getting
bad grade You start
a bad grade
on the to study
on the test
test
tomorrow
tomorrow
32. Is the theoretical contingency in this example linked to the
PM contingency?
Julie has
Julie has given
Julie practices infinitesimally
level of
hard greater swimming
swimming ability
ability
Julie will lose Julie will not lose
opportunity to Julie practices opportunity to listen
listen to music hard to music at
at next practice next practice
Julie does not
Julie fears loss of
Julie practices fear loss of
opportunity to listen
hard opportunity to
to music
listen to music
A. Yes
B. No
33. Is the theoretical contingency in this example linked to the
PM contingency?
Julie has
Julie has given
Julie practices infinitesimally
level of
hard greater swimming
swimming ability
ability
Julie will lose Julie will not lose
opportunity to Julie practices opportunity to listen
listen to music hard to music at
at next practice next practice
Julie does not
Julie fears loss of
Julie practices fear loss of
opportunity to listen
hard opportunity to
to music
listen to music
The theoretical contingency IS linked to the PM contingency in
this example. Julie fears the loss of the opportunity to listen to
music, which is part of the PM contingency.
A. Yes Back to
the
B. No question!
34. Is the theoretical contingency in this example linked to the
PM contingency?
Julie has
Julie has given
Julie practices infinitesimally
level of
hard greater swimming
swimming ability
ability
Julie will lose Julie will not lose
opportunity to Julie practices opportunity to listen
listen to music hard to music at
at next practice next practice
Julie does not
Julie fears loss of
Julie practices fear loss of
opportunity to listen
hard opportunity to
to music
listen to music
Great! Julie’s fear of the lost opportunity for music is linked
to the PM contingency – the opportunity for music.
A. Yes
B. No
35. Which contingency is the theoretical contingency linked to in
this example?
Mary has
Mary has given
Mary practices infinitesimally
level of piano
for 30 minutes greater piano
playing ability
playing ability
Mary will lose Mary will not lose
opportunity for Mary practices for opportunity for
discount on next 30 minutes discount on
piano lesson next piano lesson
Mary fears losing Mary does not
the opportunity Mary practices for fear losing the
to increase her 30 minutes opportunity to
ability increase her ability
A. It’s linked to the PM contingency
B. It’s linked to the natural contingency
36. Which contingency is the theoretical contingency linked to in
this example?
This time, the theoretical
Mary has given contingency is linked to infinitesimally
Mary practices
the has
Mary
level of piano natural minutes
for 30 contingency. But it piano
greater
should be linked to the playing ability
PM
playing ability
contingency.
Mary will lose Mary will not lose
opportunity for Mary practices for opportunity for
discount on next 30 minutes discount on
piano lesson next piano lesson
Mary fears losing Mary does not
the opportunity Mary practices for fear losing the
to increase her 30 minutes opportunity to
ability increase her ability
A. It’s linked to the PM contingency Back to
the
B. It’s linked to the natural contingency question!
37. Which contingency is the theoretical contingency linked to in
this example?
Mary has
Mary has given
Mary practices infinitesimally
level of piano
for 30 minutes greater piano
playing ability
playing ability
Mary will lose Mary will not lose
opportunity for Mary practices for opportunity for
discount on next 30 minutes discount on
piano lesson next piano lesson
Right. This time the theoretical
contingency is linked to the
Mary fears losing Mary does not
the opportunity Mary practices for fear losing the
to increase her 30 minutes natural contingency. But it
opportunity to
ability SHOULDher ability to the PM
increase be linked
contingency.
A. It’s linked to the PM contingency
B. It’s linked to the natural contingency
38. Is the theoretical contingency correct in this example?
Mary has
Mary has given
Mary practices infinitesimally
level of piano
for 30 minutes greater piano
playing ability
playing ability
Mary will lose Mary will not lose
opportunity for Mary practices for opportunity for
discount on next 30 minutes discount on
piano lesson next piano lesson
Mary fears losing Mary does not
the opportunity Mary practices for fear losing the
to increase her 30 minutes opportunity to
ability increase her ability
A. Yes
B. No
39. Is the theoretical contingency correct in this example?
Mary has
Mary has given
Mary practices infinitesimally
level of piano
for 30 minutes greater piano
playing ability
playing ability
Mary will lose No. In this example, thenot lose
Mary will
opportunity for Mary practices for contingency is for
theoretical opportunity
discount on next 30 linked to the natural
minutes discount on
contingency. It SHOULD lesson
piano lesson next piano
be linked to the PM
contingency. So this
Mary fears losing example is incorrect. does not
Mary
the opportunity Mary practices for fear losing the
to increase her 30 minutes opportunity to
ability increase her ability
A. Yes Back to
the
B. No question!
40. Is the theoretical contingency correct in this example?
Mary has
Mary has given
Mary practices infinitesimally
level of piano
for 30 minutes greater piano
playing ability
playing ability
Mary will lose Mary will not lose
opportunity for
You got it! The theoretical for
Mary practices for opportunity
discount on next 30 minutes discount on
piano lesson contingency is linked to thelesson
next piano
natural contingency. It
SHOULD be linked to the PM
contingency. So this
Mary fears losing Mary does not
the opportunity example is incorrect.
Mary practices for fear losing the
to increase her 30 minutes opportunity to
ability increase her ability
A. Yes
B. No
41. Here’s another rule,
The Escape Contingency Test:
If the PM contingency is
designed to increase or
maintain performance, the
theoretical contingency
should be an escape
contingency.
42. In this example, is the PM contingency designed to increase or
maintain performance?
Mary has
Mary has given
Mary practices infinitesimally
level of piano
for 30 minutes greater piano
playing ability
playing ability
Mary will lose Mary will not lose
opportunity for Mary practices for opportunity for
discount on next 30 minutes discount on
piano lesson next piano lesson
Mary does not
Mary fears losing
Mary practices for fear losing the
the opportunity
30 minutes opportunity for
for a discount
a discount
A. Yes
B. No
43. In this example, is the PM contingency designed to increase or
maintain performance?
It IS designed to increase or maintain
Mary has
Mary has given
performance. If Mary practicesinfinitesimally
level of piano
Mary practices she will
NOT lose the opportunity for a discount.
playing ability
for 30 minutes greater piano
playing ability
Try it again.
Mary will lose Mary will not lose
opportunity for Mary practices for opportunity for
discount on next 30 minutes discount on
piano lesson next piano lesson
Mary does not
Mary fears losing
Mary practices for fear losing the
the opportunity
30 minutes opportunity for
for a discount
a discount
A. Yes Back to
the
B. No question!
44. In this example, is the PM contingency designed to increase or
maintain performance? Very good. It’s an analog to
avoidance. Mary avoids losing the
Mary has given opportunity for a discount by
Mary has
Mary practices infinitesimally
level of piano practicing for 30 minutes. piano
for 30 minutes greater
playing ability
playing ability
Mary will lose Mary will not lose
opportunity for Mary practices for opportunity for
discount on next 30 minutes discount on
piano lesson next piano lesson
Mary does not
Mary fears losing
Mary practices for fear losing the
the opportunity
30 minutes opportunity for
for a discount
a discount
A. Yes
B. No
45. What kind of contingency is the
theoretical contingency?
Before Behavior After
Mary fears Mary does not
losing discount Mary practices fear losing
on next for 30 minutes discount on
lesson next lesson
A. Analog to avoidance
B. Analog to penalty/punishment
C. Escape
D. Penalty/Punishment
46. What kind of iscan’t be an analog, because the
outcome contingency avoidance,
No. This
immediate. Also, in is the
theoreticalcontingency isn’t contacted as long as
the contingency?
the organism does the behavior. But Mary
already has fear in the Before condition.
Before Behavior After
Mary fears Mary does not
losing discount Mary practices fear losing
on next for 30 minutes discount on
lesson next lesson
A. Analog to avoidance
B. Analog to penalty/punishment
C. Escape
Back to
the
D. Penalty/Punishment question!
47. No. First, it is NOT an
What kind of contingency is the
analog, because there is not
delay between the behavior
theoretical contingency?
and the consequence. Also,
the fear is removed, not
Behavior
Before Behavior
presented. Can you figure it After
out?
Mary fears Mary does not
losing discount Mary practices fear losing
on next for 30 minutes discount on
lesson next lesson
A. Analog to avoidance
B. Analog to penalty/punishment
C. Escape
Back to
the
D. Penalty/Punishment question!
48. What kind of No. In this contingency, the aversive
contingency is the
condition (fear) is REMOVED contingent
theoretical contingency? about it again!
on practicing. Think
Behavior
Before BehaviorAfter After
Mary fears Mary does not
losing discount Mary practices fear losing
on next for 30 minutes discount on
lesson next lesson
A. Analog to avoidance
B. Analog to penalty/punishment
C. Escape
Back to
the
D. Penalty/Punishment question!
49. What kind of contingencyisis escape
That’s right, this an the
contingency! The outcome is immediate,
theoretical contingency? in the before
and the fear present
condition is removed in the after
Before Behavior
condition! After
Mary fears Mary does not
losing discount Mary practices fear losing
on next for 30 minutes discount on
lesson next lesson
A. Analog to avoidance
B. Analog to penalty/punishment
C. Escape
D. Penalty/Punishment
50. There is just one more test to put
the Theoretical Contingency
through, the
Punishment Contingency Test
If the PM contingency is designed
to decrease performance, the
theoretical contingency should be a
punishment contingency
51. Is this PM contingency designed to increase or decrease
Tony’s hitting?
Tony has
Tony has good infinitesimally
Tony hits a nurse
medical treatment worse medical
treatment
Tony will not get
Tony will get a token
Tony hits a nurse a token within
within 30 minutes
30 minutes
Tony does not fear
Tony fears losing
losing the
Tony hits a nurse the opportunity
opportunity for
for a token
a token
A. It’s designed to increase performance
B. It’s designed to decrease performance
52. Is this PM contingency designed to increase or decrease
The PM contingency is an analog to
Tony’s hitting?
penalty. Tony will lose the opportunity
for a token if he hits a nurse. So this Tony has
should decrease the frequency that he infinitesimally
Tony has good
Tony hits a nurse
medical treatment hits nurses. worse medical
treatment
Tony will not get
Tony will get a token
Tony hits a nurse a token within
within 30 minutes
30 minutes
Tony does not fear
Tony fears losing
losing the
Tony hits a nurse the opportunity
opportunity for
for a token
a token
A. It’s designed to increase performance Back to
the
B. It’s designed to decrease performance question!
53. Is this PM contingency designed to increase or decrease
Tony’s hitting? is an analog to
Good! The PM
penalty, so Tony’s hitting the
nurses should decrease. Tony has
Tony has good infinitesimally
Tony hits a nurse
medical treatment worse medical
treatment
Tony will not get
Tony will get a token
Tony hits a nurse a token within
within 30 minutes
30 minutes
Tony does not fear
Tony fears losing
losing the
Tony hits a nurse the opportunity
opportunity for
for a token
a token
A. It’s designed to increase performance
B. It’s designed to decrease performance
54. What kind of contingency is this?
Before Behavior After
Tony does Tony fears
Tony hits a
not fear losing losing a
nurse
a token token
A. Analog to avoidance
B. Analog to penalty/punishment
C. Escape
D. Punishment
55. What kind of contingency the behavior.the outcome
immediately follows is this? And Tony’s
Oops! It’s not an analog because
fear (an aversive condition) follows the
Before Behavior
response, so After be punishment.
it would
Tony does Tony fears
Tony hits a
not fear losing losing a
nurse
a token token
A. Analog to avoidance
B. Analog to penalty/punishment
C. Escape
Back to
the
D. Punishment question!
56. What kind of contingencyCareful! The outcome
is this?
immediately follows the
response, so it is a punishment
Before Behavior After
contingency, not an analog.
Tony does Tony fears
Tony hits a
not fear losing losing a
nurse
a token token
A. Analog to avoidance
B. Analog to penalty/punishment
C. Escape
Back to
the
D. Punishment question!
57. What kind of contingency But inaversive condition
No. In escape, an this?
is removed.
is this contingency
an aversive condition (fear) is
Before Behavior After
presented.
Tony does Tony fears
Tony hits a
not fear losing losing a
nurse
a token token
A. Analog to avoidance
B. Analog to penalty/punishment
C. Escape
Back to
the
D. Punishment question!
58. What kind of contingency fear this? on
Right!!! The is is contingent
Tony’s hitting. The fear should
Before Behavior punish After behavior.
the hitting
Tony does Tony fears
Tony hits a
not fear losing losing a
nurse
a token token
A. Analog to avoidance
B. Analog to penalty/punishment
C. Escape
D. Punishment